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Every aspect of people's lives in the community is governed by rules. Some rules are more important others. If a person breaks some rules three times, he/ she will be released. Other rules will only result in chastisement, such as breaking the rule for bragging. Jonas notes, "There was never any comfortable way to mention or discuss one's successes without breaking the rule against bragging, even if one didn't mean to. It was a minor rule, rather like rudeness, punishable only by gentle chastisement" (Lowry 34). This reveals that the community doesn't allow any acknowledgement of differences, positive or negative.

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Very scientific, exact, concrete language is used by all members of the community. Precision of language is taught from a young age. Asher, Jonas's friend, is reprimanded for mixing up two similar sounding words in chapter 1. Jonas, on the other hand, "was careful about language." (Lowry 4). The characters are taught to speak clearly and concisely to express their thoughts and feelings. Many of the terms have a functional or scientific tone (newchildren means babies who are "new to the world").

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Children are required to complete a certain number of volunteer hours from ages 8-12. Once they do this, they will receive their Assignment at the Ceremony of 12. If children to not complete the required number of hours, they will not receive their Assignment and it will embarrass them and their families. Jonas recalls about a boy in previous years, "an Eleven had arrived at the Ceremony of Twelve only to hear a public announcement that he had not completed the required number of volunteer hours and would not, therefore, be given his Assignment. He had... then been given his Assignment privately, with no applause, no celebration: a disgrace that had clouded his entire future" (Lowry 36). This situation illustrates how breaking a rule can negatively affect a person's future forever in this community.

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Everyone is careful about language. Jonas spends half of the first chapter trying to identify a word to express what he is feeling. He realizes he is feeling apprehensive-- "Apprehensive, Jonas decided. That's what I am" (Lowry 6).  People in the community try to use the most exact terms they can to explain their feelings and everything around them.

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What is life and daily living of the characters like?

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What is life and daily living of the characters like?

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Everyone has a job, or Assignment, that is given to them by the government ("After the Ceremony of 12, you'll be with your Assignment group, with those in training" (Lowry 22).) Adults go to work each day and children go to school. At night, families eat dinner and spend time together. Babies reside in the Nurturing Center until they are assigned to families.

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What is the geographic location of the novel?

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What is the geographic location of the novel?

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Citizens live in an unnamed community. It's just referred to as "the community." Other communities surround it. No specific geographic location is given; however, Jonas notes that there is a river nearby-- "Now, as he pedaled home along the river path..." (Lowry 4).

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The physical environment seems to be suburban. There are houses or "dwellings" along with schools, parks, and fields. The emotional environment seems calm and orderly. People in the community go about their tasks each day and come home at night to be with their families. Everyone has a role that helps the community run more smoothly. Jonas's father, for example, is a Nurturer who takes care of all of the communities newchildren, or babies, until they become a One ("It was a very important job, Jonas knew, but one that didn't interest him all that much" (Lowry 9)).

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The main characters live in their family's "dwelling," or house. All of the characters live in the same style dwelling. The dwelling seems spacious enough to house a four person family; however, it doesn't seem overly huge. Each dwelling includes a loudspeaker where the Speaker can make announcements to all families ("ATTENTION. THIS IS A REMINDER TO ALL FEMALES UNDER NINE THAT HAIR RIBBONS ARE TO BE NEATLY TIED AT ALL TIMES" (Lowry 28). The dwellings make up the community along with other necessary buildings like schools, the Nurturing center, and the House of the Old.

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How does the society appear to be a utopia?

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How does the society appear to be a utopia?

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Many if not all of the problems in our world do not exist in Jonas's world. There is no hunger, homelessness, war, disease, or conflict of any kind. The society is peaceful, and everyone gets along with one another. Making people feel different or uncomfortable is discouraged from a young age. Jonas reflects, "It was not a rule, but considered rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals" when Lily compares his different looking eyes to Gabriel's (Lowry 26).

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The government has access to the citizens all of the time. There is a speaker in each home that is able to communicate with every member of each family unit at all hours of the day and night. Important choices are also taken away from individuals and given to the government.

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What personal freedoms are controlled or limited by the government?

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What personal freedoms are controlled or limited by the government?

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The government controls all aspects of its citizens' lives. The government gives everyone their Assignment, or career, at age 12, their spouses when they are older, and two children (boy and girl) after that. Citizens are required to dress a certain way and follow all rules dictated by the community. If someone breaks the rules three times, he/ she is released from the community. Jonas's mother explains, "You know there's no third chance. The rules say if there's a third trangression, he simply as to be released" (Lowry 11).

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What happens in the plot that is evidence that the society is a utopia or dystopia? 

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What happens in the plot that is evidence that the society is a utopia or dystopia? 

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Everyone always seems to be calm and content in Jonas's world, which shows that it is a utopia. Each person's Assignment gives him/ her a purpose to help the community. Families seem close and spend time together every day, making it a point to eat dinner together. When Jonas's mom feels sad at dinner, her family comforts her. Jonas describes, "From his place at the table, Father reached over and took her hand. Jonas took the other. One by one the comforted her. Soon she... murmured that she felt soothed." (Lowry 12). The family prioritizes everyone's emotional wellbeing.

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In the beginning of the story, Jonas is introduced by describing his feelings. At first, he believes he is frightened, then he acknowledges that he is also excited, and finally, he decides that the right word to describe his mood is "apprehensive." He describes, "It was almost December and Jonas was beginning to feel frightened. No, not frightened, Jonas thought… He had waited a long time for this special December. Now that it was almost upon him, he wasn’t frightened, but he was… eager, he decided. He was eager for it to come. And he was excited, certainly. All of the elevens were excited. But there was a little shudder of nervousness when he thought about it, about what might happen. Apprehensive, Jonas decided. That’s what I am" (Lowry 1-6). Jonas's thoughts portray that he is nervous of something negative to come. Later, at dinner, this is revealed to be the Ceremony of 12. He is worried that he won't receive an Assignment that he will enjoy.

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In chapter 4, Jonas visits the House of the Old to complete some volunteer hours. He helps with the bathing of an old woman Larissa. He describes the process: “Last night he had watched as his father bathed the newchild. This was much the same: the fragile skin, the soothing water, the gentle motion of his hand, slippery with soap. The relaxed peaceful smile on the woman’s face reminded him of Gabriel being bathed”  (Lowry 38). Being in this environment makes Jonas very relaxed, peaceful, and at ease. It is a calming atmosphere, which makes him feel content.

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What is your opinion of dream telling in the morning and feeling telling at night? Explain.

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The goal of everyone in Jonas's community is to fit in. Pointing out someone's differences, whether positive or negative, is seen as awkward and uncomfortable, so it is forbidden. When noticing the Receiver of Memory at the Ceremony of 12, Jonas describes him as the man "who sat in the midst but seemed oddly separate from them (the Elders)" (Lowry 76). This is unusual to Jonas because everyone has a place in his community and is encouraged to work together. Seeing the Receiver alone and apart from the group foreshadows to Jonas that his training will be isolating and he, one day, will also feel disconnected to the Community, which is something he never wanted.

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Each night, people in this community are required to have dinner together and "share their feelings." This is so their family members can comfort them if they need it. This also keeps family members connected with one another. Jonas describes it in his house, "It was one of the rituals, the evening telling of feelings. Sometimes Jonas and his sister ,Lily, argued over turns, over who would get to go first" (Lowry 6). This depicts how Jonas and Lily are accustomed to and value the sharing of feelings and are eager to participate in it each night.

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Towards the end of chapter 7 of The Giver, Jonas is skipped in the Ceremony of 12. The Chief Elder goes from number 18 on his left, to number 20 on his right. This causes Jonas to understandably panic wondering "What had I done wrong?" (Lowry 73). This creates the suspenseful mood. The reader is left wondering why Jonas was skipped because this is unheard of in this community. This makes the reader want to continue reading.

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Throughout the story's beginning, the term "sameness" has been repeated several times. In the novel, this term describes that everything must be the same and there are no differences between people. Sameness is shown through the control of the weather and landscape in the community. In chapter 11 after Jonas receives the first memory of sledding, he asks the Giver, "Why don't we have snow, and sleds, and hills?" (Lowry 80). This evidence shows that the weather does not change and the landscape is the same throughout the community.

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A symbol in The Giver so far is an apple. It appears first when Jonas is playing catch with Asher. He describes, "the apple had changed. Just for an instant. It had changed in mid-air, he remembered" (Lowry 30). He can't understand how it changes, but it does four times. Later in the Ceremony of 12, Jonas remembers the incident with the apple. He realizes that this experience showed his Capacity to See Beyond, which he doesn't understand yet.  This is a major change in Jonas's life.